Michael L. Testa, Jr., represents New Jersey's 1st Legislative District in the State Senate, which encompasses parts of Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties. First elected in a 2019 special election to fill the vacancy created by Jeff Van Drew's election to the US House of Representatives, Testa assumed office on December 5, 2019. He currently serves as Republican Whip.

Testa is an attorney and partner at the law firm Testa, Heck, Testa & White, P.A., admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 2001. He has served as Chairman of the Cumberland County Republican Organization since 2014. He previously chaired the Vineland Downtown Improvement District (2006–2008) and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cumberland and Salem Counties, and served as board president of the Vineland Regional Dance Company.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Testa worked with 1st District Assemblymen Erik Simonsen and Antwan McClellan to assist nearly 4,000 district residents with unemployment benefits. He introduced legislation to limit executive orders to 14 days without legislative extension, and successfully challenged the state's $9.9 billion borrowing plan, resulting in a Supreme Court ruling limiting borrowing to $4.5 billion.

Political Career

• Chair, Cumberland County Republican Organization (2014–present)
• New Jersey State Senate, 1st District (2019–present)
• Republican Whip, New Jersey Senate (2024–present)

Key Policy Areas

• Executive order limitations and legislative oversight
• State budget and appropriations
• Election integrity and voter fraud prevention
• Unemployment assistance and constituent services
• Judiciary and legal procedure
• Public education funding

Notable Actions / Initiatives

• Assisted nearly 4,000 residents with unemployment benefits during COVID-19 pandemic
• Introduced legislation (S-2482) to limit gubernatorial executive orders to 14 days without legislative extension
• Successfully challenged Governor Murphy's $9.9 billion borrowing plan; NJ Supreme Court limited borrowing to $4.5 billion
• Authored election integrity legislative package including voter fraud task force and automatic voter registration suspension provisions
• Challenged Murphy's Vote-by-Mail executive order in court as unconstitutional

Education

• Villanova University, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
• Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, Juris Doctor
• Temple University Beasley School of Law, Master of Laws in Trial Advocacy

Personal

• Birth date: May 1, 1976
• Residence: Vineland, New Jersey